Burial vault



Aug. 6, 1935. T. R. HERBEST, .JR

BURIAL VAULT-v Filed May 17, 1955.

5 Sheets-Sheet 2 @MAT Aug. 6, 1935.

T. R. HERBEs-r, JR

BURIAL vAuLT Filed May 17, 1955 s sheets-sheet 3 Patented bAug. 6, 1935VAULT Thomas R. lHerbest, Jr., Wheeling, W.'Va., as, signor to TheConsolidated Expanded Metal Companies, Wheeling, W. Va.,

West Virginia a corporation of Application May 17, 1933, Serial N0.671,423

. 15 Claims.

This invention relates to burial vaults. or similar structures and amethod of manufacturing the same. Furthermore, the invention isespecially concerned with the type of vault which is adapted to bepositioned in dthe grave and receive a coiin or casket.

Burial vaults of this type are ordinarily made in three or foursubstantially standard sizes and their walls are usually formed fromconcrete or the like moulded about metallic reenforcement.

The primary object oi' the presentinvention is involved in thesimplification of the reenforcement pieces and the arrangement thereofin a novel manner wherebypieces of the same dimensions may be employedin the construction of vaults of any oneof a plurality of the differentstandard sizes.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear more fully asthis description proceeds.

How the foregoing and also the additional objects and advantages to bebrought out hereinafter are obtainedwill appear more fully fromconsideration of the followingdescription mak ing reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of aburial vault` reenforcement assembly constructed in accordance with thepresent invention, the view having certain portions thereof broken awayfor the sake of clarity; i Figures 2 and 3 are cross sectional viewsillustrating the arrangement of the reenforcing elements which I preferto employ in vaults of two different standard or predetermined sizes;

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic plan view of asheet of reenforcement fabricwhich I prefer to employ; Figure 5 is a perspective view oi' a templetor shaping part which is preferably employed in practicing the presentinvention; and

Figure 6 is a view of a part similar to that` shown in Figure 5 but ofdifferent dimensions, this view also illustrating the manner of usingAthe templet. l 45 In referring to the drawings, reference is first madeto Figure 1 which.illu strates a number of fabric sheets suitably -bentand assembled to form a unitary vault reen-forcement inthe manner now tobe described. The two side walls and the bottom wall of the vault areformedfrom onlytwo fabric 6r meshwork sheets, an example of one of whichappearsy diagammatically in Figure 4. 'Ihis sheet, it -wil1 be observed,includes. cross wires 9 which may. be spaced from leach other uniformdistances throughout the length of the sheet. 'Ihe longitudinallyextending wires or barsghowever, 'are spacedfrom eachother differentdistances at different points. At one edge (the top edge in Figure 4)the longitudinal wires Ill-I0 are positioned relatively close to eachother '5 while the next few wires l I preferably have greater spacing.TowardA the center of the sheet the longitudinal wires I2 are againrelatively closely spaced, and the remainder of the sheet may be made upof wires H spaced from each other sub- 10 stantially the saine distanceas those of the s ame number referred to above.

In constructing the two side walls and the bottom wall of the vault-froma pair of sheets such as shown in Figure 4, each sheet is bent l5approximately '90 along a line extended lengthwise of the sheet in theregion of the closely spaced wires I2. By reference now to Figures 1 and2 it will be seen that this bending operation results in the positioningof the closely spaced wires Il l adjacent the top edges of the sidewalls.

It' will furtherl be apparent that the closely spaced wires I2 arelocated in and adjacent to the bottom corners of the side walls. Asclearly seen in Figure 2, the inner edges ofuthe two sheets overlap' in'a central region of the bottom wall,

and it'willtherefore be apparent that extra reenforcement is affordedatvthe three points where it is most needed, i. e., in the middle of thebottom wall, at the bottom edges of the side walls, and

4at the top edges of' the side walls.

At this time it is pointed out thatl the showing of Figure 2representsthe smaller of one of a group of substantially standard sizevaults. The vault illustrated in Figure 3 is a slightly larger 35 vaultof substantially standard dimensions `in which oily the width of thevault has been increased over the dimensions of the vault of Figure 2.From comparison of Figures 2- and 3, however, it will beseen that thedimensions of 40 the fabric sheets from which the side and bot-c tomwalls areformed are such that in both of these` two standard size vaultsthe meshwork f sheets overlap to some extent in the central region oflthe bottom wall. Sheets ofthe type shown in Figure 4, therefore, may beemployed in 4forming reenforcement baskets for vaults of a plurality ofdifferent*y predetermined sizes. While, in Figures 2 and 3, the twovaults diier in width only, it Awilll be understood that-the -mesh-worksheets'may just as readilybeemliloyed in vaults of the same owidth butof different height or, for that matter, in vaults of diil'erent widthand height. y

The end walls for vaults of thedimensions of those shown in Figures 2and 3 may also, in a similar manner, be formed from meshwork sheets ofthe same size. By reference -to Fig-l ures l, and 6, it will be seenthat an end wall reenforcement sheet may conveniently be formed of crosswires or bars I3 and upright wires I4, the spacing for which need notnecessarily be different in different areas of the sheet, although Iprefer to employ a sheet in which relatively close spacing appearsbetween two upright wires I4 in a central region, as clearly seen inFigures 1, 5 and 6. The purpose of this feature is increased strength inthe center of the end walls.

In accordance with the preferred method of fabricating the baskets, theend wall sheets are placed over forming members or templets such asshown at I5 and I5a in Figures 6 and 5, respectively. These members I5and I5a are provided with angle members or hooks I5b and I5c,respectively, against which the upper edge of an end wall meshwork sheetmay abut when the sheet is to be bent or formed. The members I5 and I5a,are further provided with grooves I3a and I4a located in the side edgesand in the bottom edge, respectively, in order to receive the wires I3and I4 when they are bent Adown over the edges of the templet in themanner clearly appearing in Figure 6. Uniformity of bending from onepiece to the next is therefore assured since, if the workman alwayspositions a sheet to be bent against the hook members I5b or I5c, thebending will take place at the proper lines for the particular vaultunder construction. 'Ihe accurate bending of the end wall reenforcementpieces provided in accordance with the foregoing is of considerableadvantage in facilitating fabrication of the remaining portions of thevault, since these end wall pieces act as a framework to which the sidepieces are rigidly tied, thereby obtaining the exact and proper spacingbetween side wall members without recourse to laying these members outand measuring them to obtain the proper overlapping of the sheets.

From comparison of Figure 5 with Fgure 6,

' however, it will be seen that the member I5a is of slightly greaterwidth than the member I5, this difference, of course, being employed forthe purpose of forming end walls for vaults of differ'- ent width, Inaccordance with the specific showing of the drawings, the forming memberI5 is employed in shaping the end Walls for a vault of the sizeillustrated in Figures 1 and 2, while the member I5a of Figure 5 isemployed for a similar purpose in connection with a vault of the widthshown in Figure 3.

After placing a fiat fabric sheet over one of the forming members in themanner clearly shown in Figure 7, the three projecting edges of thesheet are bent downwardly, by means of a hammer or the like, as a resultof which the sheet takes the form of a dished reenforcement piece of theshape which clearly appears in Figure 1. These end walls and the sideand bottom wall pieces may then be assembled, and it will be observedthat, upon assembly, the upright corners between the side and end wallsare reenforced by virtue of the overlapping of the bent portions of theend walls with the ends of the side walls. Similar reenforcement isprovided along the bottom corner between the end walls and the bottomwall.

After positioning or assembly of the several sheets forming the side,bottom and end Walls, the concrete, of course, may be poured or mouldedaround the reenforcement basket in the manner clearly illustrated by thebroken line showing r in Figures 2 and 3.

At this time it is also pointed out that one of the principal advantagesof the present method and structure is that the reenforcement basketsare uniformly and accurately made so that a uniform positioning of thereenforcement in the concrete is readily obtainable. The arrangement ofthe reenforcing to provide extra reenforcement in certain zones and atcertain edges and corners also assures maximum strength with minimum ofmaterials employed. It will be observed, furthermore, that even thoughpieces of uniform size are employed in the construction of reenforcementbaskets for different size vaults, the extra reenforcement is stilllocated in the proper zones or at the proper corners, etc.

In considering the structure of the roof or cover for the vault,attention is first called to the showing of Figure 2 from which it willbe seen that the roof reenforcement is made from a pair of sheets offabric, the various longitudinal wires I6 and cross wires Il of whichmay all be of uniform spacing, the two sheets being positioned tooverlap in the central region of the roof. This overlapping againprovides increased reenforcement in the region where it is most neededwithout, however, excessively increasing the thickness of thereenforcing elements, as a result of which the roof may also beconstructed of relatively thin concrete.

Similarly, the vault of Figure 3 has a roof or cover formed by means offabric sheets which may be of exactly the same size as those employed inthe roof of Figure 2. In this instance, however, since the vault isslightly wider, the overlapping at the central region thereof is notquite as great as in the arrangement of Figure 2.

In connection with the formation of the various walls of the vault, itmight be noted that while certain of the predetermined or standard vaultsizes differ from each other only as to width or height of the vault, sothat identical pieces may be employed in forming-for example, the sideand bottom walls of such vaults, certain other vaults of standard orpredetermined sizes may necessitate the use of longer meshwork sheetsand, with this in mind, if desired, certain of the meshwork sheets maybe made of maximum length and cut down to the length of such vaults ashave smaller lengthwise dimension.

Figures l to 3 inclusive illustrate a somewhat arched roof or coverconstruction and I prefer to form the end portions of the roofreenforcement in a special way to be described in connection withFigure 1. As here shown a tapered portion is provided at each end of thevault roof and I prefer to construct the reenforcement for the taperedend from a separate fabric piece having transverse wires 2U and wires 2|which are extended longitudinally of the vault. The wires 2l are bent atpoints 22 so that the end portions thereof extend in parallelism withthe longitudinal wires I'I of the main roof pieces. These endreenforcement pieces may be secured as by wiring indicated at 24, and itwill be noted that by this arrangement a very rigid roof structureresults'without, however, unduly complicating the character of theseveral pieces employed or excessively multiplying their number.

From the foregoing it will be seen that reenforcement baskets for vaultsmay be constructed in accordance with my invention from a minimum numberof stock pieces even though the vaults may vary in certain of theirdimensions. Extra. reenforcement is also. afforded at all'those placeswhich might be subjected to appreciable` strains.

l. A meshwork sheet for reenforcing side and bottom walls of burialvaults or the like of different sizes within a predetermined range, saidsheet being adapted to be bent in a region 'intermediate the edgesthereof so that portions of the sheet extend in theplane of a side andin the plane of the bottom wall of the vault, and said sheet includingreenforcement elements forming a network, the elementsbeing spaced fromeach other relatively small distances in said intermediate region of thesheetas compared w 'th the spacing of said elements in other areasthereof, the intermediate region of relatively close spacingbeing ofsuillcient width to provide increased -reenforcement adjacent the cornerformed by the bending operation nwhen bending `the sheet for purposes ofreenforcement of side and bottom walls of any vault within saidpredetermined range,the 'size and rigidity of the elements of which themeshwork is composed being sufficient to providea self-sustaininghandleable unit when a plurality'of the sheets arel assembled in theform of a relnforcement basket for the vaults or the like.

21 A meshwork sheet for reenforcing side and bottom walls of burialvaults or the like of different sizes within a predetermined range, saidsheet being adapted to be bent in a region intermediate the edgesthereof so that portions of the sheet extend in the plane of a side andin the plane of the bottom wall of the vault, and said sheet includingreenforcement elements forming a network, the elements being spaced fromeach -other relatively small distances in said intermediate region ofthe sheet as compared with the spacing of said elements in other `areasthereof, the intermediate region of 'frelatively close spacing beingofsumcient width to provide ioncreased reenforcement adjacent the cornerformed by the bending operation when bending the sheet for` purposes ofreenforcement of side and bottom walls of any vault within saidpredeterminedrange, and said sheet further being of sueh'proportons thatthe portion thereof at one' side of the line of bend is of sufiicientdimension to extend substantially. throughout the width of the Wallinwhose plane it is located and that the portion at tle other side of thelin'e ofC bend is of such dimension as to extend throughout bent alongdifferent lines in a central region,

thereof of predetermined width, so as to provide reinforcement in twoadjoining walls of vaults of diiferent sizes, saidsheet being composedof a .network of reinforcement elements of size and rigidity sufficientto provide a self-sustaining handleable unit when a plurality of thesheets are asembledin the form of a reinforcement basket for the vaultsor the like, and the spacing of said elements Abeing relatively smallsubstantially throughout the width of said centralregion as comparedwith other areas of the sheet.

4. A meshwork reinforcement sheet for burial vaults or the like ofdifferent sizes adapted to be bezit along4 different lines in'a centralregion .v thereof of Apredetermined width, so as to providereinforcement in two adjoining walls of vaults of different sizes,\saidsheet being composedof a network ofreinforcement elements of size andrigidity s uilicient to provide a self-sustaining handleable unit when aplurality of the sheets are assembled in the form of a reinforcementbasket ffor the vaults or the like, the spacing of said elements beingrelatively small substantially throughout the width of said centralregion as compared with other areas of the sheet, and said elementsfurther having small spacing in a region adjacent the edge of the sheetadapted to be. used at the top of the vault body.

5. As an article of manufacture, a reinforceor cover of a burial vaultorthe-like, said structure being composed'of a plurality of meshworkreinforcement sheets integrated to form a unitary structure, the sheetsbeing of uniform width and positioned to overlap each other in a centralregionyof the roof or cover, and said sheets having sufficient strengthand rigidity tov form a Aself-sustaining handleable unit when assembledin the shape of the roof or cover.

6. As an article of manufacture, a-reinforcement structure for aseparately handleable roof or cover of a burial vault or the like, saidstructure being composed of a. plurality of meshwork reinforcementsheets integrated to form a uni- ,Jtary structure, the sheets being ofuniforrnwidth and positioned'to overlap each other in a central regionof the roof or cover, and the sheets fur- "ther being bent downwardlytoward the ends of the roof, and said sheets having sufficient strengthand rigidity to form a self-sustaining handleable unit when assembled inthe shape of the roof or cover.

Y 7. As an `article of manufacture, a reinforcement structure'for burialvaults or the like including a plurality of network reinforcement sheetsintegrated to form a basket structure having a bottom, side and endwalls, there being a ment structure for a separately handleable roof ipair of sheets having their edges overlapped in of the basket, and'saidsheets having sufiicient strength and rigidity to forma self-sustaininghandleable unit when assembled in basket form.

8. As an article of manufacture, a reinforcement structure for burialvaults or the like including a plurality of network reinforcement',

sheets integrated to forni a basket structure having a bottom, side andend walls, there being a pair of sheets having their edges overlapped inthe region of the central longitudinal axis of said bottom wall, andthere being sheets having their edges overlapped at the upright comersbetween the side and end walls, and said sheets having sufiicientlstrength and rigidity to form a selfsustaining handleable unit whenassembled in basket form.

9. As an article of manufacture, a reinforcement structure for burialvaults or the like including a plurality, of network reinforcement'sheets integrated to form a basket structure having a bottom, side andend walls, there being a pair of sheets having their edges overlapped inthe region of the central longitudinal axis of said bottom wall, andsaid sheets having suillcient strength and rigidity to form aself-sustaining handleable unit when assembled in basket form.

10. As an article of manufacture, a reinforcement structure for burialvaults or the like including a plurality of network reinforcement sheetsintegrated to form a basket structure having a bottom, side and endwalls, there being sheets having their edges overlapped at cornersbetween at least certain of said walls, and said sheets having suicientstrength and rigidity t0 form a self-sustaining handleable unit whenassembled in basket form.

1l. A reinforcement structure for burial vaults or the like including apair of counterpart meshwork sheets forming the end Walls of thestructure and having edges thereof bent to lie in the planes of the sideand bottom walls, and a pair of counterpart meshwork sheets each bent soas to define a side wall of the vault and a portion of the bottom Wallthereof, said edges of the rst pair being arranged in overlappingrelation with reference to the end portions of the sheets lying in theside and bottom Walls, said meshwork sheets being integrated to form aunitary basket-like reinforcement structure and further being composedof wire or rod-like reinforcement elements arranged in crisscrossformation having appreciable inherent rigidity or strength suicient topermit handling of a completed basket as a unit, the second pair ofsheets having edge portions thereof overlapping along the centrallongitudinal axis of the bottom wall.

12. A reinforcement structure for burial vaults or the like including apair of counterpart meshwork sheets forming the end walls of thestructure and having edges thereof bent to lie in the planes of the sideand bottom walls, and a pair of counterpart meshwork sheets each bent soas to define a side wall of the vault and a portion of the bottom wallthereof, said edges of the rst pair being arranged in overlappingrelation with reference to the end portions of the sheets lying in theside and bottom walls, said meshwork sheets being integrated to form a,unitary basketlike reinforcement structure and further being composed ofwire or rod-like reinforcement elements arranged in crisscross formationhaving appreciable inherent rigidity or strength suicient to permithandling of a completed basket as a unit.

13. The method of constructing a meshwork reinforcement structure for aburial vault or the like which includes bending a meshwork sheet so thatportions thereof lie in the planes of an end wall and a side wall of thevault, and forming an additional meshwork sheet to lie in the planes ofsaid side wall and the bottom wall of the vault by bending the secondsheet in conformity with the width of the side wall as determined by thebending of the first sheet.

14. The method of constructing a meshwork reinforcement structure for aburial vault or the like which includes bending a meshwork sheet so thatportions thereof lie in the planes of two walls of the vault, bending anadditional sheet to lie in the planes of two walls one of which isdifferent from the planes of the first two walls, and utilizing thesheet first bent as a gauge for the bending of the second sheet.

15. As an article of manufacture, a sheet of meshwork reinforcingmaterial for combined side wall and corner construction, said sheethaving an intermediate portion Where the mesh is relatively ne andwithin the region of which the sheet may be bent at any one of aplurality of points, and said sheet having the portions at each side ofsaid midportion of a mesh which is relatively coarse.

THOS. R. HERBEST, JR.

